The NFL is a year-round content-generating machine. With days remaining until the league’s 60th Super Bowl, interest in everything surrounding the game has never been higher. News, information, and opinion about the NFL drive revenue for publications, radio stations, and television networks. Business is good for the league and those who cover it, and few have done so in as many effective ways as Jason La Canfora.
“Content is king. I published my first article when I was 19,” said La Canfora. “I’ve been at this for a bit, and you just develop reporting chops. You can sense stories, develop instincts, and grow an ability to decode things in real time. I feel like sometimes I can see the future.”
The Baltimore-area native has been a guiding voice on his hometown station, 105.7 The Fan, for nearly six years. Before joining Audacy, La Canfora built his reputation in print journalism by cultivating sources and earning trust among football fans. That background separates him from many in his current role.
“There’s no substitute for becoming a writer or reporter,” explained La Canfora, who wrote for numerous publications, including The Baltimore Sun, Detroit Free Press, and The Washington Post. “Learning how to write on deadline teaches you how to synthetize information quickly. You learn how to keep it simple, stupid.”
La Canfora describes himself as an old punk rock kid who has always lived with a do-it-yourself mentality. That mindset helped propel him to opportunities with NFL Network and CBS Sports, where he worked as an insider. The exposure elevated his national profile and led to thousands of sports radio interviews across the country.
Adapting to Sports Radio
During that time, La Canfora often discussed radio possibilities with former 105.7 The Fan programmer Chuck Sapienza. In 2020, the idea became reality when La Canfora teamed with longtime host Ken Weinman in afternoon drive. Two weeks later, the pandemic reshaped everything.
“We did the first five shows as normal. The following Friday they handed us boxes and told us we’re doing shows from home indefinitely,” referenced La Canfora. “I did the show from my attic for about nine months. It forced us to produce a sports talk show with no sports, which got your mind working in a different way than ever.”
La Canfora leaned heavily on his team’s creativity, aided by his long-standing relationship with Weinman. Movie and pop culture tournaments filled the void, as did guests pulled from decades of contacts. He says the period tested the show and ultimately strengthened its bond with listeners.
Change has been a constant throughout La Canfora’s career. In December 2024, 105.7 The Fan shifted leadership when Sapienza and Audacy mutually agreed to part ways. The following month, the station hired Scott Jameson to lead the brand forward.
Another transition followed last month when Jameson announced he would step down after just over a year for personal reasons.
“I knew that it was going to be tough on Scott [Jameson] with his family in Detroit and moving into a market like Baltimore,” said La Canfora. “I wish I had more time with Scott. We really just didn’t have that much time. A year might sound like a lot of time, but it really wasn’t.”
La Canfora credits Jameson with expanding the station’s video and social media presence, calling it a necessary evolution. The next hire will mark his third brand manager in six years, and curiosity tops his wish list.
“I haven’t been in this part of the business as long as others. Ideally, I’d love someone who’s familiar with the show and can hit the ground running,” said La Canfora. “Someone who’s engaged, inquisitive, and always asking questions about what we do. Also tries to find other ways to do it. Personally, that kind of relationship is so key to me.”
Evolution of the NFL Insider
Every on-air talent wants an engaged coach, especially one focused on refining a proven product. That mirrors the leadership styles La Canfora observed while covering NFL coaches as an insider for NFL Network and CBS Sports. In recent years, however, the insider role has shifted, often creating more problems than value.
Social media now demands instant information, fueling a nonstop cycle of contracts, hirings, and firings. La Canfora left his CBS Sports insider role in 2022, believing the position no longer resembles journalism.
“It’s almost anti-journalism, and so brazenly transactional. I tried to do it differently and be ahead of the curve. Leaning into the writing aspect of it and having that stand up,” said La Canfora. “The technology and Twitter of it all, it really is mindless. I don’t miss it at all.”
He questions whether the role would carry the same weight without Twitter.
“I’m not talking about people reporting and writing nuanced NFL content. I’m talking about the ‘I spit this piece of information out before you’ bit. It’s already s**t. What’s beneath s**t,” questioned La Canfora. “It’s so bastardized, manipulated, and tit for tat. When it hit the stage of I’m going to give it to you, but you have to tweet it exactly as I text it to you. What’s lower than that? If you want to stay on this gravy train, you have to credit me and my agency before I show you what the real numbers are. What is that?”
Authenticity in a Digital World
La Canfora built a sizable following on Twitter/X through insights, opinion, and information. On 105.7 The Fan, he keeps his four-hour radio show distinct from his personal social media presence.
He recently leveraged that audience to launch Wanna Bet, a podcast inspired by growing up around bookies. After consulting advisors and discussing the idea with Audacy, the project launched last year with co-host and station producer Ben Hall.
“We just started doing it, and I wanted to differentiate Wanna Bet from everyone else. We’re going to show all our work. It’s funny how others in the space feel like yesterday didn’t exist,” explained La Canfora. “I had chances to put it on regional sports networks. It’s a TV show, but Audacy was interested in it. We just started doing it on Twitter, and Audacy helped us out with a lot to get it going.”
Active on Twitter/X, La Canfora acknowledges pushback from some employers over content that blends sports, podcasts, and politics. He remains unapologetic, noting his bio reads, “I speak for myself not corporations.”
“I’m me. I’ve never taken a class on social media nor know anything about social media. People will like it, hate it, or be in the middle,” said La Canfora. “There’s people who tell me I shouldn’t be so political. I’m a citizen first, and only on this planet for so long. I strongly believe in what I believe in.”
He hopes that honesty teaches his children to question narratives and stand firm in their beliefs. He jokes that criticism does not affect him, noting he sleeps well.
“This [social media] is just an extension of me. I’m not speaking for your corporation. There’s no stance here,” explained La Canfora. “I’m not always going to be somebody’s cup of tea, and I am so very fine with that.”
La Canfora feels fortunate to balance a successful radio show with a growing podcast brand. Still, industry layoffs filling his social feeds raise concerns.
“Sports media in general is teetering. Maybe it’s time for more re-invention. I don’t take a day for granted that I do this,” said La Canfora. “I don’t know if the pendulum is going to start swinging the other way anytime soon. My Twitter feed is filled with people announcing they’ve been laid off.”
After three decades in the industry, his advice is simple: build your own platform when possible and embrace the do-it-yourself mentality that has fueled his career while continuing to feed the NFL’s content machine.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
La Confora’s authenticity has been a guiding point for me and others, I appreciate him standing up for what he believes in and wish more had the courage to do so
Haven’t listened to 105.7s 2-6 show since he was put on it. He is a complete buffoon.
“I feel like sometimes I can see the future.” I wonder if he saw that he was getting fired today. Good riddance, blowhard.